Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

Aaron Vaughn was an elite Navy SEAL. In August 2011, while deployed in Afghanistan, he was dispatched to relieve fellow soldiers who were trapped by enemy fire. Filled with selfless bravery, his team of Navy SEALs flew into the middle of the firefight to rescue their comrades. As they left the rescue, their chopper was shot down. All on board died. His widow was interviewed after receiving the news, and told the world “even if you could tell him that this would have happened he would have done it anyway. All those men are like that. They're selfless... He was a warrior for Christ and he was a warrior for our country and he wouldn't want to leave this Earth any other way than how he did." Vaughn’s Grandmother told him to be careful before he deployed and he told her, “I'm not afraid because I know where I'm going if something happens to me.” His Grandmother said, “Aaron was a Christian and he stood firm in his faith... He's with the Lord now and I'll see him again some day." What a life! The Bible says that there is no greater love than “one who lays down his life for his friends.” Let us learn from Navy Seal Aaron Vaughn what it means to love and serve others. That’s what Jesus Christ did and that’s what we are called to do day by day. That is how you reach your world!   

Jan worked very hard in her job. She was on time, stayed late, completed her assignments, and never missed a deadline. She didn’t receive much public praise for her efforts. Her job was done quietly, behind the scenes, with excellence. She was a faithful worker. Faithful in the little everyday tasks that more often than not went unnoticed. But eventually someone did notice- she was promoted several times, each promotion provided a higher salary and more responsibility. She eventually started her own company and is very successful today. Jan loves the Lord, and her faithfulness was rewarded. Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” A great way to reach your world is by living a life of humility and faithfulness. As you do, your character and excellence will stand out from the crowd. Be faithful in the little things, just as Jan was. God will bless your faithfulness and use you mightily to reach others with the Good News in your world. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the Bible calls us “Christ’s ambassadors.” We are to speak as His voice on this earth; called to witness on His behalf. But there’s more. The verse goes on to say that we must proclaim the message of salvation, “as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” This verse conveys a sense of urgency: we implore you to be reconciled. This appeal comes straight from God, our Creator and Heavenly Father. We are not peacetime ambassadors with time to spare. We are ambassadors to a world at war with the powers of darkness, at war with death. God’s gift of salvation is a message that needs to be shared immediately. This urgency should motivate us constantly. This is a matter of life and death! We must equip ourselves with the Word of God, pray constantly, and put on the armor of the Lord described in Ephesians 6. Let’s not underestimate our role as Christ’s ambassadors. Let’s take every opportunity to reach as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Just as He did with the disciples, Jesus is waiting to wash our feet from the dirt of the world around us. But how does he cleanse us? What do we have to do to show that we are ready to be cleansed? The answer is confess our sins. Confession is simply stating what we’ve done, telling the Lord what we know we’ve done wrong. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve confessed that type of sin; the Lord wants to hear us confess to Him all of our recurring sins and acts of defiance. When we confess our sins to the Lord, they’re instantly washed. Cleansed. The Lord has hurled “all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” As Corrie ten Boom used to say, “The Lord takes our sins and throws them into the bottom of the sea. Then he puts out a sign that says, ‘No fishing allowed.’” The Lord doesn’t remember our sins anymore, and he doesn’t want us bringing them up again either. When we confess, Jesus gives us a spiritual wash and cleanses us of all our sins. When those around us see our release from guilt and shame, they too will want to confess their sins to Christ and be cleansed as well. So, give the gift of the Good News, so your world can live a joyful life just like you enjoy with the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Oh, Peter. He’s always the disciple with the big mouth. He refuses to let Christ wash his feet, until Jesus quietly and patiently gives him the shock treatment. Jesus says, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me,” in John chapter 13. This wakes Peter up to his desperate condition. He cries out, “Then, Lord. Not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Peter was horrified by the thought of Jesus tossing him to the sidelines. It should be horrifying to us too! If we refuse to be cleansed day by day, we will end up in the grandstands watching the game but never playing. The Lord then reminds Peter that he had a spiritual shower the day he trusted in Him. “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet,” Jesus said. So we need Christ to continually wash our feet. If we admit our desperation to him, he will gently cleanse us from our daily dirt and grime. Then we can be part of God’s plan for the world, and take those who are still dirty head-to-toe to the spiritual shower of Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross. What a privilege and joy to share that Good News with someone today, and so, change our world!

Jesus knelt in front of his disciples during the last Passover meal. He laid aside his outer garments and washed their feet. All of the disciples were shocked, but one of the disciples refused. Peter said, "You will never wash my feet, Lord.” At first it sounds like he was being humble, but if you listen again, you can almost hear the pride in his voice. What a contradiction. Peter wasn’t saying this to one of the other disciples. He was talking to Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior. But don’t we do the same? We put up a front and pretend we’re okay the way we are. But the Lord makes the situation clear, patiently saying, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” God is a God of love, but also a God of holiness. The two go together and cannot be separated. He will always love us, but for us to walk with him, we must be washed by Christ on a daily basis. Following Christ means admitting our sins, allowing Him to kneel in front of us and wash our feet. It is then that we can join Christ’s good work in the world and share about his cleansing power with those people around us!

Back in Jesus’ time, visiting friends required walking along dusty roads. So out of respect dinner guests always removed their sandals before reclining at the table. Following Hebrew tradition, the host of the meal would have a servant wash each guest’s feet and dry them with a towel. It was a disagreeable job, but it had to be done. Jesus took this same role of a servant at the last supper and washed each one of the twelve disciple’s feet. Can you imagine that? The Master himself, the Son of God, the Creator, did the work of a slave! In the book of John, Jesus says to his disciples,” A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet.” Even the disciples had dirty feet. Just walking half a mile down the dusty streets of Jerusalem would have contaminated them, no matter how recently they’d had a bath. They were clean through their believing in Jesus Christ. Similarly, you and I can become spiritually unclean as we daily walk through the world. But sincere confession purifies us again. The good news is Jesus wants to make us clean. He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that our sins can be washed away. Tell someone this Good News today, and you’ll be influencing your world for good.

I’ve noticed that many Christians have a tendency to handle the term “Fear of the Lord” very carefully. We’re not entirely comfortable with the idea of a God we have to fear. We explain away the words, saying that this “fear” really means respect or reverence. Both of these are excellent responses to God – we should revere and respect Him. However, a good dose of fear is also appropriate. Our God is good. He is also Master of creation and the Judge of all righteousness. The scope of His majesty is unfathomable to the mind of man. Judgment is brought up again and again in the Bible, matched only by the assurance that salvation from sin is possible through God’s son Jesus Christ. This idea of fearing the Lord also has implications for our lives. God has called us to share His Word with the world. “Fear of the Lord” is and should always be a huge motivating factor. When the Lord of heaven and earth calls us to a task, we best answer as earnestly as possible – with respect, reverence, and yes, with fear.

Years of rejection and hurt can make anyone bitter. Today in the news there is story after story of people doing unimaginable things due to bitterness in their hearts. I met a young woman once who grew up in the slums of Lima. The injustice, pain and suffering she experienced left her bitter and angry. But once she prayed to receive Jesus Christ into her life, she was deeply, radically changed. She returned to the slums where she was once persecuted and revolutionized the neighborhood! When Jesus Christ fills every space of our hearts, we are able to love even those who reject us, and hate us, and insult us. In the book of John, Jesus says, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” And Jesus also said in the book of Matthew, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” As followers of Jesus Christ we can expect rejection. But keep on loving. Keep on sharing. Keep on reaching your world. If you have a story of how you’ve persevered in reaching your world, I would love to hear it! Why don’t you email your story to stories@palau.org.

Whether your community is big or small, it’s impossible to be everyone’s friend. I have seen it tried to be done and those people get quickly burnt out. We simply cannot please everyone. Jesus picked four disciples out of the twelve to be his closest and most trusted friends. And while he had the four, he still lived only for the approval of God. Any motivation other than God’s approval will only lead us to disappointment. The Bible says in the book of Proverbs, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” If we are constantly seeking others people’s approval, we are living in the fear of rejection. Let’s together release any desire for all people to like us. If we value God’s approval over all else, we will feel more joy and be able to go out and boldly reach our world. There is a personal reward for remaining faithful in the face of rejection. God has a plan and he plans to use us mightily to reach others with His Good News. Accept it!

Most of us have been rejected at one point or another. Through evangelism and preaching the Good News, I have been rejected multiple times. It’s not popular to follow God and openly speak about His Son, Jesus Christ. You know, Jesus was rejected often, by many people. He was rejected so much that He was betrayed by friends, falsely accused, and even put to death. Now that is rejection! And Jesus had done nothing wrong. At the height of Jesus’ ministry, he returned to his hometown, Nazareth. He had been a traveling preacher, performing miracles and loving sinners. And still, the Nazarenes rejected Him. But you know, this didn’t catch Jesus by surprise. The book of Matthew records him saying, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” Then the Bible says that Jesus “did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” He heard the Nazarenes’ response to him and his teaching. He wasn’t angry, he just moved on to the next place that needed to hear His message. As you reach out to your world, don’t be deterred by rejection, expect it, and remember- your reward is in Heaven, because the heavenly Father has so promised.  “Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”  That’s what Jesus said.  

Remember that time when your co-worker got a raise or your best friend made the Varsity team and you made JV? Often this is when I hear a lot of people grumble. They whine and complain that everyone else’s life is going better than theirs. It’s common during these times for people to become bitter, jealous, cynical. But let’s rejoice in other’s successes! It says in Philippians that “in humility value others above yourselves.” In our very competitive society, everyone is looking out for “number 1”. But rejoice for your friend when they become engaged, rejoice when your college-mate receives an internship or high paying job. While rejoicing, your others-focused perspective will really stand out. Being genuinely happy when others are rewarded allows you to focus on pursuing excellence, working hard and doing your best. Rejoicing in God’s blessings in other people’s lives is also a great way to build strong relationships- the kind of relationships necessary if you want to reach your world. The Bible says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”  We find it hard sometimes, when we’re not doing so well financially and others are. But it’s a great sign of God’s Holy Spirit when we rejoice with those who rejoice.  Do it today. You’ll see results.

When we’re children, one of the things that motivate us is the desire to please our parents. We draw pictures and show off new skills to get a smile or an expression of approval. We do this because they love us and that love compels us to make them proud. It’s a powerful motivator. Likewise, once we grasp the scope of God’s love for us, we are compelled to serve Him. Jesus’ death and resurrection granted us the ability to have a personal relationship with Him. And, as 2 Corinthians 5 says, “we make it our goal to please him.” So what pleases God? When people speak well of His Son. We are called to proclaim His Good News and demonstrate His love to those around us. This week, spend some time in the Word and recall the immense depth of God’s love for you. Meditate on the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then, go share that news with someone who needs to hear it. Let that love motivate you to reach your world for Jesus Christ.

In the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, there were 147 well-known virtue maxims that summarized the society. They demonstrated all of the attributes that were prized in that culture. 147 items and not one of them was humility. The Greek word philotimia meant love of honor. The philosopher Aristotle said that honor and reputation were among the greatest things anyone can obtain. When someone achieved great things, it was only right and proper that full recognition be given. Humility comes from the word humilitus, which meant a shameful lowering of yourself. Citizens were expected to be humble before the gods and the emperor. Or else they would kill you. But citizens would never consider being humble with peers or someone lower than themselves. This would be shameful. Jesus turned that idea upside down. He showed us the best example of humility, as he took our place on the cross. We too can be humble, and should be humble and think of others above ourselves as it says in Philippians. This humility is a key component of love. To follow Christ is to throw away our pride and forget about our reputations for the sake of other people.

Have you ever sat next to someone on an airplane who could not stop complaining? Everything was wrong: the plane was too cold, the passengers were too loud. And don’t get them started about their daily lives! Kids, spouse, boss, everyone was out to make their lives miserable.  It isn’t hard to find things to complain about. Some people make it their life goal to complain about everything. Misery loves company, so it can be easy for us to gripe with them. In 1 Corinthians, it says that love “is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” Complaining is a result of all three of those things. Philippians 2 commands God’s people to do everything without complaining or arguing. Let us challenge one another to stay away from these things. We will then stand out as being different from the rest of the world’s complaining people. You will reach your world when you say thank you to the flight attendant or smile at the crying baby. It may be difficult, but it will make a difference.  The world is looking at us wondering if we are serious followers of Jesus or we’re just pretending to be.  “The love of Christ controls us,” the Bible says.  Let’s show the love of Christ to those around us.